Page 210 of Born of Blood and Ash

My heart cracked. “You had to know it wasn’t Kolis.”

“It wasn’t him I was thinking of.”

I started to ask who, but then I knew. Kyn. Veses’ taunt slithered through my thoughts. “You don’t needto worry about him either. I don’t want you to worry at all.”

Ash’s arms went around me, and he lifted me clear off myfeet, holding me tightly to him. “I will never not worry about you, liessa.”

Looping my arms around his shoulders, I buried my face inhis neck. His hand cradled the back of my head as he turned, leaning againstthe iced-over wall. He slid down until his ass was on the floor, and I wasfacing him, my knees pressed against the wall.

“Tell me what happened.”

“Do you promise not to freeze us if I do?”

His fingers curled into my hair, loosening the braid. “I’lldo my best.”

I kissed the space above his pulse. “I was with Jadis andReaver when I felt a Primal arrive. I knew it wasn’t you or Attes,and I wanted to see who it was.”

“You knew it wasn’t Attes?”Surprise filled his tone.

“Mm-hmm,” I murmured against his throat.

“Your Primal senses are really kicking in. Soon, you’ll beable to tell which Primal it is before they arrive.”

My brows knitted. “Really? How?”

“I’ll explain, but you need to tell me what happened first.”

I was half-tempted to give my intuition time to answer forme, but the room was only beginning to warm. It would have to wait. “I went outonto the Rise, and Rhain was there. Veses didn’t seemto know you weren’t here—like she couldn’t sense your presence.”

“You were likely blocking her. She would have to be closerto tell if I was here or not,” he answered, confirming my theory. “It canhappen when the true Primal of Death is near, too. You and Kolis would be theonly ones unaffected by it.” His palm smoothed up my back. “What led to theblood in your hair?”

I cringed a little against his neck. “When I heard her sayshe wanted to see you, I sort of…you know, had one of those knee-jerkreactions.”

A rough chuckle shook both of us. “I am not surprised tohear that.”

“You probably also won’t be surprised to hear that Veses was being a bitch,” I said and then told him what’dhappened.

Well, I told him everything except her taunts about howRhain had been freed, despite Rhain’s advice. It wasn’t like I didn’tunderstand what he had been trying to tell me, but what would Ash do with thatknowledge? Other than be enraged. “She was running her mouth, and I kind oflost it. I broke her nose.”

Another short laugh rumbled from Ash. “I assume with yourfist?”

“More like my knee.” I rubbed my nose along the still-coldskin of his neck.

“Nice technique.”

“And I threw her down onto the road,” I continued. “By herhair.”

Ash fell silent.

“Then I kicked her, and I think I grabbed her by the hairagain.”

He was still quiet, but I detected faint tremors along hisshoulders and chest. He was…laughing.

I plopped my forehead on his shoulder. “And then—”

“There’s more?” he cut in.

“There is,” I muttered. “I broke her wrist.”

---